Red Mottled Rock-crab (Cancer grapsus) (1731-1743)

Dated 1731-1743, "Red Mottled Rock-crab (Cancer grapsus)" is an artwork by Mark Catesby. Historical background, 1731-1743: The eighteenth century began with the light, ornamental Rococo, especially in France, and moved towards the clarity and antique references of Neoclassicism by the end of the century. The Enlightenment and the habit of the Grand Tour fed a wider interest in science, travel, antiquity, and natural history, and illustrators accompanied many expeditions. The catalogue places it in Plants & Animals. The format is portrait. Plants & Animals, a short history: Images of plants and animals run from medieval herbals and bestiaries to the scientific illustration of the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. Images of plants and animals are valued both for the care of their observation and for their decorative appeal.

"Red Mottled Rock-crab (Cancer grapsus)" is shown in the onlly.art catalogue for reference and browsing. A portrait format suits narrow wall spaces, hallways, and the area beside a door or window. Browsing works by the same artist, or from the same period, is a good way to compare styles before choosing what suits your space.

English, 1683–1749

If you like the visual language of Mark Catesby, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.